Our Heroes

President Obama Honours Wisconsin Gurdwara Police Heroes

JAN UEBELHERR

The eight Oak Creek police officers who
responded to the shooting at the Gurdwara in Wisconsin last August have
received a national law enforcement award and were honored at the White
House Saturday (May 11, 2013) morning by President Barack Obama.

The officers are among 43 recipients of the TOP COPS award presented by the National Association of Police Organizations.

Seven people, including the gunman, died in the August 6 attack.

Those honored are Lt. Brian J. Murphy, who was the first to respond
to the scene and was hit by 15 bullets, three of which were stopped by
his protective vest; and officers Savan "Sam" Lenda, John H. Finco,
Julie M. Grauberger, Dean Kleinhans, Michael Schultz, Derick Slamka and
Kelly Romel.

Lenda wounded the gunman with a rifle shot. The gunman, Wade Michael Page, then killed himself.

"When Officers John H. Finco, Kelly Romel, Julie M. Grauberger,
Derick Slamka, Dean Kleinhans, and Michael Schultz arrived, they found
Lt. Murphy waving them into the gurdwara to help other possible victims,
despite having been shot 15 times," according to a White House statement
on the awards. "The heroic actions of all of these officers saved an
untold number of lives and exemplify what it means to be a TOP COP."

Jim
Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police
Association and member of the NAPO board, attended the ceremony in the
White House's state dining room.

The President spoke for about 15
minutes. Afterward, he met with the eight Oak Creek officers.

"I think they were all pleasantly overwhelmed by the experience," Palmer said. "It's a lot to take in."

An awards dinner will be held Sunday night.

Other officers winning the TOP COPS award were from California,
Illinois, Iowa, Florida, Indiana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and
Texas.

Murphy was one of the officers singled out by Obama in his speech at
the White House ceremony. He also talked of the police response to the
Boston Marathon bomb blasts, including the applause from crowds after
the second suspect was caught.

"We don't always get that opportunity to stand and applaud the men
and women who keep us safe," Obama said. "But they're out there -
hundreds of thousands of you patrolling our streets every single day.
And we know that when we need you most, you'll be ready to dash into
danger, to protect our lives, even if it means putting your lives on the
line."

Here's what Obama said about Murphy, from remarks supplied by the White House press office:

"I already talked about one of this year's top cops, Brian Murphy, in
my State of the Union address. When a gunman opened fire on a gurdwara in
Wisconsin and Brian was the first to arrive, he did not consider his
own safety. He fought back until help arrived and ordered his fellow
officers, who are here today, to protect the safety of the Americans
worshipping inside - even though he was lying there bleeding from 12
bullet wounds. When he was asked how he did it, he said, 'That's just
the way we're made.' "

Conversation about this article

God Bless Lt Brian and his family. Thank you, Mr President, Sir. Long live the President of USA.

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